Lectures to Explore 200 Years of U.S.-Mexico Ties

UT Dallas Expert's 10-Part Public Series Open to Public at Richardson Library

Sep. 7, 2010

As Mexico prepares to celebrate its bicentennial, the country’s evolving ties with the U.S. are the subject of a Richardson Public Library lecture series planned by a leading UT Dallas scholar.

Dr. Luis Martín has been sought after as a speaker.

“Mexico and the U.S.: A Contentious Relationship” will be presented by Dr. Luís Martín, the University’s Clinical Professor of Latin American Studies, in 10 weekly segments starting Tuesday, Sept. 14.

“Porfirio Diaz, the dictator of Mexico at the time of the 1910 revolution, once said, ‘Poor Mexico – so far from God and so near the United States,’ ” Martín said. “These lectures will explore the relationship between the two nations as Mexico celebrates 200 years as an independent nation so near to the United States.”

The talks will take a pre-independence look at both countries, then explore Mexico’s earliest days as a nation and the formation of the Lone Star Republic. The series moves into the 20th century in November and ends with an exploration of immigration issues on Nov. 16.

The lectures will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and are free to the public. No registration is necessary.

Dr. Martín taught at Sophia University in Tokyo and the University of Puerto Rico before accepting a position at Southern Methodist University. He taught at SMU for 25 years and was that university’s first holder of the Edmond and Louise Kahn Endowed Chair in History.

Dr. Martín served for 10 years as a panelist and consultant to the National Endowment for the Humanities and was also selected as an Outstanding Educator of America. In 1988, he was appointed to the Royal Order of Civic Merit by King Juan Carlos of Spain. When he retired from SMU, friends and former students established the Luis Martín Fellowship in History in his honor.

Dr. Martín is much sought-after as a speaker in the community as well as in the corporate world.

For the full lecture schedule and more information, visit the Richardson Public Library’s website. The library is located at 900 Civic Center Drive in Richardson.